Astrology and the UK by Peter Morrell This essay attempts to make some sense of an enormous mass of data and ideas, which I have been collecting since my interest in astrology began some 28 years ago. The UK is basically an Aries nation with some strong Capricorn undertones, and few would dispute this viewpoint. Many examples might be added to this at a later stage merely to illustrate the profusion of prominent British people drawn from its entire history who are/were born under Aries or Capricorn. Its long and important military traditions and its Industrial Revolution both indicate the Aries rulership. At many times in history the British have been natural leaders and certainly regard themselves as leaders and as inventive and industrious people. For example, they have the oldest Parliament, one of the first democracies, the first political revolution to depose a ruling monarch [Charles I, 1640s], they implemented the first agricultural revolution [18th century] and the first industrial revolution [c.1740-1840].

Yet they also cling tightly to established traditions and structures, and, often being skilled administrators, they are always reluctant to change things completely, always preferring slow, piecemeal reform to outright revolution. They also love compromises which attempt to satisfy everyone. The links with India, with history and a love of traditions probably exemplify the Saturn and Capricorn element. The cool British reserve, detachment ['stiff upper lip'?], and long-winded appraisal of contrasting viewpoints, before reaching decisions, such as in the legal process, probably also underscore the Capricorn tendency. The English traditionally excel in diplomacy, playing in the centre-ground and trying to please everyone! That element also suggests the sign on its 7th house Libra, which has the scales of justice and a love of balance and symmetry, so manifest in English architecture and painting. The best 'birthchart' for the UK seems to be the coronation chart for William 1st at Westminster Abbey in London 25 Dec. 1066 at noon. This chart has a Capricorn Sun and Aries ascendant. It is widely regarded as the best of several other possible contenders for the title.

The chart also has a grand trine between Sun and Mercury in Capricorn, Jupiter and Saturn in Virgo and Neptune in Taurus. This trine seems to underscore the deep 'real-world' practicality of the British and the general success of the nation in such practical earth sign matters as manufacture, trade and commerce and politics. Other possible UK charts include that of the coronation of King Edgar at Bath on 11 May 973, which has Moon in Leo and a Sun, Mars and Mercury conjunction and a Virgo ascendant. Another is the Union with Scotland chart for 00.00 hours 1 May 1707 with 16 Cap asc and Mars at 20 cancer in 7th. Finally, the UK chart of 00.00 am 1 Jan. 1801 has Sun in Cap and Libra asc. None of these other charts contain quite the same blend of influences possessed by the 1066 chart. In relation to parts of the UK, Wales is usually given as Gemini, Scotland as Cancer and Ireland as Taurus. While I accept these, they probably do need some slight modification.

Scotland I have long thought that there is also some Sagittarius element, it having strong links to the aristocrats of England and Europe as well as its own complex clan system of families, and of land ownership, which are typically Cancerian. It is also a land of tolerant Protestantism like Holland, also ruled by Cancer. Both were also strongly influenced by Calvinism. The link with medicine is partly covered by the caring sign of Cancer, but a strong Virgo element must also be present, especially for Edinburgh and Glasgow. I think a Sag. Sun with Cancer ascendant might therefore 'fit the bill' by placing sun in 6th house. Another possibility is a Cancer Sun with Virgo asc, which might be possible to get Sun in 9th house. The 6th and Virgo would resonate nicely with medicine for which its universities at Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews and Aberdeen excel. A sound alternative scheme would involve a sag sun, Virgo asc, sun in 4th with either sun conjunction Moon or Moon on asc.

Examples of birth data for important Scots include: Lord Home 2 July 1903 Troon Ayrshire, sag ascendant; David Steel, 31 March 1938, Dumfries [being an Aries with sun saturn moon conjunction places Mr Steel prominent in England as well as Scotland: he was leader of the Liberal Party, c1977-85]; actor Sean Connery, 25 August, 1930, Edinburgh; actor Gordon Jackson, 19 Dec. 1923; poet and singer Ivor Cutler 15 Jan 1923; actor Robert Carlyle 14 April 1961 Glasgow; actor and mimic John Sessions, 11 Jan. 1953 Edinburgh; singer Annie Lennox 25 Dec.

1954, Aberdeen; actor Ewan McGregor 31 March 1971 Perth [with Libra asc]; John McLeod, chief of the clan, 10 August 1935; Andrew Neil, broadcaster, 21 May 1949 Edinburgh; politician Tam Dalyell, 9 August 1932; environmentalist John Muir, 21 April 1838; writer Arthur Conan Doyle, 22 May 1859 Edinburgh; politician Gordon Brown, 20 Feb. 1951; footballer Kenny Dalglish, 4 March 1951; swimmer David Wilkie, 8 March 1955; philosopher, David Hume, 26 April 1711; poet Robert Burns, 25 Jan 1759 Ayrshire; engineer and inventor James Watt, 19 Jan 1736; artist Sir Henry Raeburn, 4 March 1824 Edinburgh; comic Billy Connelly 24 Nov.

1942, Glasgow; actor David Niven, 1 March 1910; politician Charles Kennedy, 25 Nov. 1959; inventor Alexander Graham Bell, 3 March 1847 Edinburgh; explorer David Livingstone, 19 March 1813 Glasgow; singer Sheena Easton, 27 April 1959; singer Moira Anderson, 5 June 1940; singer Kenneth McKellor, 23 June 1927; microbiologist, Alexander Fleming, 6 August 1881; Moira Shearer, 17 Jan 1926 actress, Scotland; Ramsay MacDonald, politician 12 Oct. 1861, Scotland; Robert L Stevenson, writer 13 Nov. 1850, Edinburgh; Sir Walter Scott, writer 15 August 1771, Edinburgh; Robert Bruce, 11 July 1274 Scotland; James Clarke Maxwell, inventor, 13 Nov.

1831, Edinburgh; James Barrie, writer 9 May 1860, Scotland; Gasgow and Oxford historian W D Lamont, 3 Feb. 1901; writer Nan Shepherd, 11 Feb. 1893 Aberdeen. Though times of birth are not always known, all these charts contain important Moon and Cancer, Jupiter, sag, elements which illustrate the above points for Scotland. A noon chart for Edinburgh will give most of the essential features of these individuals. For Wales, apart from the Gemini influence, there is also a strong Capricorn element and that is perhaps why it has such long, strong and generally harmonious ties with England as the dominant nation of the group. Also, Gemini with Capricorn asc places sun in 6th house and hence Gemini-Virgo link to teaching, song and poetry, in which the Welsh generally excel. Alternatively a Gemini Sun with Virgo asc would place the sun in the Capricorn 10th house. This Capricorn element for Wales is also represented by its many wild and windy moors and mountains and rocks like slate and granite, which are extracted there, especially in North Wales.

South Wales is far more industrial having coal and limestone, steel production and a more cosmopolitan atmosphere. Singer Tom Jones [7 June 1940] and actor Richard Burton, [10 November 1925] both hail from Pontypridd in the Rhondda Valley in south Wales. Other key Welsh natives include David Lloyd George, 17 Jan 1863 at Caernarfon [14 Aquarius asc, Uranus 17 Gemini, mercury conjunction the asc, sun 26 Capricorn], UK Prime Minister in WW1; the poet Dylan Thomas 27 October 1914, [with a mercury-mars conjunction in Scorpio]; politician Viscount Tonypandy, 29 Jan 1909; actor Windsor Davies, 28 August 1930; the actor Anthony Hopkins, 31 Dec.

1937; Max Boyce, comedian, 7 September 1945; the artist Augustus John, 4 Jan 1878 Tenby [with Sagittarius asc]; Harry Secombe, singer and comedian, 8 September 1921 [with a Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn conj. in Virgo]; the war poet, Wilfred Owen, 18 March 1893, Oswestry; writer Leslie Thomas, 22 March 1931; actor Hywel Bennett, 8 April 1944; singer Mary Hopkin, 3 May 1950; musician Geraint Jones 16 May 1917; sportsman Gareth Edwards, 12 July 1947; politician Michael Foot, 23 July 1913; footballer, Emlyn Hughes, 28 August 1947; rugby player and surgeon, J P R Williams, 2 March 1949; politician Eldon Griffiths, 25 May 1925; politician Denzil Davies, 9 Oct.

1938; singer Shirley Bassey, 8 Jan 1937, Cardiff; politician Neil Kinnock, 28 March 1942; Laurence of Arabia, 15 August 1888, explorer, Portmadoc North Wales; writer Roald Dahl, 13 Sept 1916 south Wales; professor of Surrealism, J H Matthews, 11 Sept. 1930 Swansea. Though times of birth are not known all these charts contain important Mercury, Gemini, Virgo and Saturn or Capricorn elements which illustrate the above points re Wales. A chart cast for noon in Swansea will give most of the essential features of these people. For Ireland a combined rulership of Venus and Jupiter is fairly close to the truth. It seems to be ruled by Taurus and Libra with strong shades of Pisces and Sagittarius. Gambling, horse-racing, horses in general, the nomadic gypsy life of many of its itinerant 'tinkers'; music, the stage, dance, literature and drink are all important elements of the Irish psyche.

For such a small and under-populated country it is a remarkable fact that Ireland has given birth to some of the most gifted writers, dancers, singers, poets, musicians, playwrights and actors working in the English language, and what is often called the 'Celtic Renaissance' forms the artistic backbone to the British Isles. Examples of important Irish natives include the poet W B Yeats, 13 June 1865; Peter O'Toole, actor, 2 August 1932; the singer, Val Doonican, 3 Feb. 1929; Belfast comedian Frank Carson, 6 Nov. 1926; writer J P Donleavy 23 April 1926; Terry Wogan, TV presenter, 3 August 1938, Belfast boxer Alex Higgins, 18 March 1949; Dr Patrick Hillery, president, 2 May 1923, Charles Haughey, Tishoch [= Prime Minister], 16 Sept. 1925; Dave Allen, comedian, 6 July 1936; Sinead O'Connor, Dublin born singer, 8 Dec.

1967; Edna O'Brien, actress, 15 Dec. 1936; Garret FitzGerald, Tishoch, 9 Feb. 1926; Van Morrison, Belfast born singer, 31 August 1945; James Galway, flautist, 8 Dec. 1939; Belfast peace campaigner, Maireed Corrigan-MaGuire, 27 Jan. 1944; Louis MacNeice, Belfast poet, 12 Sept. 1907; William Corbet, 17 August 1779 Ballythomas, County Cork; Charles Edward Jennings, 19 Oct. 1751, Dublin; Arthur O'Connor 4 July 1763, Bandon, County Cork; singer Bob Geldof, 5 Oct. 1954; actor Richard Harris 1 Oct. 1933; actor and director Kenneth Branagh, 10 Dec. 1960; actor Liam Neeson 7 June 1952 Ballymena; broadcaster Desmond Lynam 17 Sept.

1942; footballer George Best, 22 May 1947 Belfast; Thomas Moore 28 May 1779, Dublin; broadcaster Gayle Hunnicutt, 6 Feb. 1943 Belfast; snooker player Alex Higgins, 18 March 1949; politician Ian Paisley, 6 April 1926; broadcaster Gloria Hunniford, 10 April 1940; singer Hazel O'Connor, 16 May 1955; swimmer, Mary Peters, 6 July 1939, Belfast; writer Jonathan Swift, 30 Nov. 1667 Dublin; writer James Joyce, 2 Feb. 1882 Dublin; psychiatrist Anthony Clare, 24 Dec. 1942 Dublin; composer Victor Herbert, 1 Feb. 1859, Dublin; Thomas B Sheridan, writer 30 Nov. 1751, Dublin; Oscar Wilde, writer 15 Oct. 1856, Dublin; Oliver Goldsmith, poet 10 Nov. 1728, Ireland; Laurence Sterne, Writer 24 Nov.

1713, Clonmel Ireland; Edmund Burke, writer 12 Jan 1729, Dublin; Lord Kelvin, Scientist 26 June 1824, Belfast; George Bernard Shaw, Writer, 26 July 1856, Dublin; republican Michael Collins, b. 1890, Clonakilty; Glasgow academic, Ulster, Sir Samuel Curran, born at Ballymena, 23 May 1912; Ulster architect and writer James Curl 26 March 1937. Though times of birth are not known all these charts contain important Venus, Jupiter, Pisces, sag, Taurus and Libra elements which illustrate the above points re Ireland. Until more information becomes available, a chart cast for Belfast or Dublin at noon will convey most of the main features for each individual. For England itself, the country can be divided up into various regions based upon their sign rulership. The south is mostly a Capricorn area with strong shades of Leo too. Southwest and west is Gemini; the north generally Aries; east Pisces and Sag; Northeast Pisces; Notts. Lincs. and Yorks.

also Sag and Libra. Rulerships of Some Specific Areas London is widely regarded as being ruled by Gemini 17 degree, but also has Capricorn and Leo undertones which cover its function as a major administrative and political centre [Saturn, Capricorn] and as a centre for royalty [Leo].

Some useful charts for prominent Londoners include: Ken Livingstone, politician, 17 June 1945; Sir Isaiah Berlin, 6 June 1909; Prince Phillip, 10 June 1921, Johnny Speight, playwright, 2 June 1920; Charlie Watts, drummer with Rolling Stones, 2 June 1941; actor Charlie Chaplin, 16 April 1889; actor John Gielgud, 14 April 1904; actor Alec Guinness, 2 April 1914; poet Dante Rossetti, 12 May 1828; musician Sir Arthur Sullivan, 13 May 1842; poet Robert Browning, 7 May 1812; writer G K Chesterton, 29 May 1874; philosopher J S Mill, 20 May 1806; poet Alexander Pope, 21 May 1688; Queen Victoria, 24 May 1819; comedian Bob Hope, 29 May 1903; musician Leopold Stokowski, 18

 April 1862; politician Peter Shore, 20 May 1924; artist and President of the Royal Academy, Sir Hugh Casson, 23 May 1910; actress Barbara Windsor, 6 August 1937; Queen Mary III of Teck, 26 May 1867; politician George Canning, 11 April 1770; artist J M W Turner, 23 April 1775; poet Charles Lamb, 10 Feb.

1775; actress Vanessa Redgrave, 30 Jan. 1937; artist John Ruskin, 8 Feb. 1819; politician Clement Attlee, 3 Jan. 1883; comedian Bob Monkhouse, 1 June 1928; comedian Eric Sykes, 4 May 1923; General Gordon, 28 Jan 1833; Eliz Taylor, actress 27 Feb. 1932; William Hunt, artist 2 April 1827; Edward Gibbon, historian 27 April 1737; Anthony Trolloppe, writer 24 April 1815; John Keats, poet 29 Oct. 1795; John Milton, poet 9 Dec. 1608; Beau Brummel, dandy, 7 June 1778; that most English of poets Thomas Gray, 26 Dec. 1716; Jessica Tandy, actress 7 June 1909; Queen Anne, 6 Feb. 1665; Queen Mary I, 18 Feb.

1516, Greenwich; Jean Simmons, 31 Jan 1929, actress; Jeremy Bentham, 15 Feb. 1748, political philosopher; economist Ralf Dahrendorf, 1 May 1929; playwright Ian Curteis, 1 May 1935; writer Lord Robin Mughan, 17 May 1916 Norfolk and Suffolk in the eastern region are ruled by Pisces and Aquarius respectively. Essex also seems to be governed by Pisces. Good examples here include Thomas Paine, 29 Jan. 1737 at Thetford on the border between Norfolk and Suffolk; the composer Benjamin Britten, 22 Nov.

1913 at Lowestoft, Suffolk; the artist John Constable, 11 June 1776, near Ipswich, Suffolk; artist Thomas Gainsborough 14 May 1727, Suffolk; antiseptic pioneer, Joseph Lister, 5 April 1827, Essex; William Gilbert, scientist, 24 May 1544, Colchester, Essex; Rider Haggard, writer 22 June 1856, Norfolk; Horatio Nelson, 29 Sept. 1758, admiral, Holt, Norfolk; William Gilbert, 24 May 1544, writer, Colchester. Staffordshire is ruled by Cancer; in appearance the Staffordshire Knot is very like the glyph for Cancer. Examples of natives include: Nick Hancock, Stoke; Anthea Turner, 25 May, Stoke; Bruno Brookes, Stoke; Neil Morrisey, 4 July 1962, Stafford; Freddie Jones, 12 Sept. 1927, Stoke [with Sun, Venus conj.; Merc Mars conj. in Libra; Moon Jup Uranus conj.

in Aries and Pluto in Cancer]; Judith Chalmers, 10 Oct. 1936, Stoke; TV sport presenter Frank Bough, 15 Jan. 1933, Stoke; snooker player Ray Reardon, 8 Oct. 1932, Stoke; singer Robbie Williams, 13 Feb. 1974, Stoke [with Sun conj. Jupiter in a grand trine in air signs]; spiritualist Sir Oliver Lodge, 12 June 1851; writer Arnold Bennett 27 May 1867; potter Josiah Wedgwood, 12 July 1730; Jack Ashley, politician, 6 Dec. 1922, Stoke; footballer Sir Stanley Matthews, 1 Feb. 1915, Stoke [with a Sun Uranus conj. in Aquarius and Mercury conj.

Jupiter in Aquarius trine Saturn in Gemini - a very impressive chart]; darts player Eric Bristow, 25 April 1957, Stoke; potter Josiah Spode 25 May 1755; writer Vera Brittain 1893, Newcastle-under-Lyme; writer and wit Dr Samuel Johnson, 18 Sept. 1709, Lichfield; potter Thomas Minton, 1765; Izaac Walton, angler, 9 August 1593, Stafford. Like Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire are both co-ruled by Libra and Sagittarius and have many monasteries, abbeys and cathedrals as evidence of their active religious past; also where sports, such as rugby and cricket flourish, and once also Robin Hood. Being an accomplished archer [Sag] and 'robbing from the rich to give to the poor' [Libra], he somehow epitomises the spirtit of the place. Some examples include actress Su Pollard, 7 Nov. 1949; broadcaster Chris Tarrant, 10 Oct.

1946; writer D H Lawrence, 11 Sept. 1885; skater Jayne Torville, 7 Oct. 1957; religious reformer William Booth, 10 April 1829; cricketer W G Grace; broadcaster Leslie Crowther, 6 Feb. 1933, Nottingham; actor Albert Finney, 9 May 1936; Samuel Butler, writer, 4 Dec. 1835, Langar Notts. Lancashire, Cumbria, Derbyshire and Leicestershire are ruled by Aries; these characteristically tend to be either industrial [Leics. and Lancs.] or where sheep-farming prevails [Cumbria and Derbyshire]; re Cumbria, William Wordsworth is a good example born 7 April 1770 at Cockermouth, with Scorpio asc; and writer Melvyn Bragg 6 Oct. 1939. For Derbyshire, Herbert Spencer 27 April 1820; footballer Brian Clough, 21 March 1935; politician Dennis Skinner, 11 Feb.

1932, Bolsover; politician Ivor Stanbrook, 13 Jan. 1934 Burton; comedian Tim Brooke-Taylor, 17 July 1940, Buxton; artist Joseph Wright, 3 Sept. 1734, Derby. Manchester and its surrounding Lancashire towns are ruled by Cancer; Cancer rules cotton. But Lancashire with its symbol of the red rose and much mining and heavy indusry, appears to be Aries. Lancastrians include magician Paul Daniels 6 April 1938; actor Roy Barraclough, 12 July 1935; miner's leader Joe Gormley, 5 July 1917; politician Cyril Smith 28 June 1928; DJ Dave lee Travis, 25 May 1945 Manchester; TV presenter, Pattie Coldwell, 14 May 1952; former Police Chief James Anderton, 24 May 1932; singer Gracie Fields, 9 Jan. 1898 Rochdale; comedian Les Dawson, 2 Feb.

1933; steeplejack, railway enthusiast and wit Fred Dibnah, 29 April 1938, Bury; orchestral conductor Thomas Beecham, 29 April 1879, St Helens; political reformer Robert Peel, 5 Feb. 1737, Bury; inventor Richard Arkwright, 23 Dec. 1732, Preston; scientist James Joule, 24 Dec. 1818, Salford; Titanic actor Bernard Hill, 17 Dec. 1944; Rochdale and Oxford historian M Cunliffe, 5 July 1922; Lancashire born Cambridge academic Don Cupitt, 22 May 1934. Leicestershire examples include writer Sue Townsend, 2 April 1946; footballer Gary Lineker, 30 Nov. 1960; comedian Eric Idle, 29 March 1943; comedian Graham Chapman, 8 Jan. 1941; writer Colin Wilson, 26 June 1931.

The Northeast or Newcastle area seems to be Pisces because of the shipbuilding aspect of its industrial past [also like Belfast and Southampton]. However, like Bradford, a Pisces ascendant places Aquarius in the 12th [Piscean] house and therefore links to both Pisces and Aquarius tend to be found. It is no surprise, therefore, to be the place where railways originated. Good examples here include the singer Sting, 2 Oct. 1951; writer Catherine Cookson, 20 June 1906; actor Rodney Bewes, 11 Nov. 1938; guitarist Mark Knopfler, 12 Aug. 1949; runner Steve Cram, 14 Oct. 1960; actor James Bolam, 16 June 1938; George Stephenson, railway pioneer, 1781; singer Alan Price, 19 April 1942; singer Eric Burdon, 11 May 1941; singer Brian Ferry, 26 Sept. 1945.

Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset in the Southwest are ruled by Gemini, but Devon and Somerset have a strong Taurus and agricultural aspect while Cornwall has a strong Capricorn aspect judging from its wild moors and very rocky coastline. Its people are also notoriously unfriendly to strangers and insular. Examples of natives of the southwest include actress Dawn French, 11 Oct. 1957; poet Charles Causley, 24 August 1917; writer Charles Kingsley, 12 June 1819; actor John Cleese, 27 Oct. 1939 at Weston-Super-Mare; comic wit Peter Cook 17 Nov. 1937 at Torquay; politician William Waldegrave, 16 August 1946, Somerset; Radio presenter, Ned Sherrin, 18 Feb. 1931, Somerset; Dr Edward Jenner, 17 May 1749 Berkeley, Gloucester; poet Henry Fielding, 22 April 1707, Glastonbury; Thomas Hardy, writer, 2 June 1840, Dorchester; Samuel Phelps, 13 Feb.

1804 actor, Devonport; John Marlborough, 6 June 1650, soldier, Devon; Maurice Evans, actor, 3 June 1901 Dorchester; Humphrey Davy, engineer, 17 Dec. 1778 Penzance, Cornwall; Robert Southey, poet, 12 August 1774, Bristol; Joshua Reynolds, artist 16 July 1723, Devon; Samuel T Coleridge, poet 21 Oct. 1772, Devon; mariner Samuel Plimsoll, born at Bristol, 10 Feb. 1824; animal imitator Johnny Morris, 20 June 1916, Bristol. Herefordshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire are all ruled by Taurus/Libra and therefore by Venus. Good examples here include musician Mike Oldfeld, 15 May 1952, Hereford; Nell Gwyn, 2 Feb. 1651, Hereford; actor David Garrick, 19 Feb.

1717 Hereford; Lord Russell, 18 May 1872, Bedfordshire; comedian Ronnie Barker, 25 Sept. 1929, Bedfordshire; Cecil Rhodes, explorer 5 July 1853, Herts.; John Masefield, poet, 1 June 1878, Ledbury, Herefordshire; Bedford and Cambridge geographer H H Lamb, 22 Sept. 1913. Shropshire, land-locked between Staffordshire and Wales, is ruled by Gemini. Examples of its natives include the poet A E Houseman, 26 March 1859; biologist Charles Darwin, 12 Feb. 1809 [born the same day as Abraham Lincoln]; actor Willie Rushton, 18 Aug. 1937 [a chart with with two impressive grand trines]. Chester and Cheshire seem to have Leo and Virgo links [e.g. the Cheshire cat!]; also forming one of the largest Roman settlements in the north, Devum, home to the 5th Roman Legion, which flourished up to the 5th century, and second only in importance to York as a Roman garrison.

Ernest Bevin, 9 March 1881, politician, Winsford, Cheshire; writer A Garner, 17 Oct 1934, Congleton, Cheshire. Northamptonshire is either Cancerian or with Sag/Pisces elements. Examples include the poet John Clare, 13 July 1793; writer H E Bates, 16 May 1905; and Diana Princess of Wales, 1 July 1961 [sag ascendant and born in Norfolk]. Sheffield has strong Libra and Taurus links, though traditionally ruled by Sagittarius. South Yorkshire in general, including Doncaster, ruled by Libra. Leeds is ruled by Libra. One can cite numerous examples for Libra, Taurus and Pisces/Sag for Yorkshire in general: veterinarian and writer James Herriot 3 Oct. 1916; poet Ted Hughes, 16 Aug. 1930; comic actor Michael Palin, 5 May 1943, Sheffield; cricketer Freddie Truman 6 Feb. 1931; cricketer Ian Botham, 24 Nov.

1955; cricketer, Len Hutton, 23 June 1916; TV presenter John Noakes, 6 March 1934, Halifax; playwright and film maker Colin Welland 4 July 1934, Barnsley; cricketer Geoff Boycott, 21 Oct. 1940; actor Brian Blessed, 9 Oct. 1937; actor Sean Bean, Rotherham, 17 April 1959; actor Bill Maynard 8 Oct. 1928; actor Christopher Timothy, 14 Oct. 1940; TV presenter cum politician Austin Mitchell, 19 Sept. 1934; playwright Alan Ayckbourn, 12 April 1939; cricket umpire Harold 'Dickie' Bird, 19 April 1933; wrestler, actor and writer Brian Glover, 2 April 1934 Barnsley; TV chat-show host Michael Parkinson, 28 March 1935 Barnsley; footballer Kevin Keegan, 14 Feb.

1951 Doncaster; miner's leader and politician Arthur Scargill, 11 Jan. 1938, Barnsley; actor and playwright Alan Bennett 9 May 1934 Leeds; politician John Prescott, 31 May 1938, Hull; actor James Mason, 15 May 1909, Huddersfield; scientist Joseph Priestley, 13 March 1733, Leeds; Catholic Cardinal Basil Hume, 2 March 1923; cricketer Ray Illingworth 8 June 1932; actress Diana Dors, 23 Oct. 1931, Leeds; actress Dame Judi Dench, 9 Dec. 1934; Emily Bronte, writer 30 July 1818, Yorkshire; Thomas Chippendale, furniture maker, 13 Nov. 1717, Yorks; Captain James Cook, traveller, 28 Oct. 1728, Yorkshire; Charles Laughton, actor 1 July 1899, Scarborough; Harold Wilson, politician 11 March 1916, Huddersfield.

Worcestershire is thought to be ruled by Sagittarius: composer Edward Elgar, 2 June 1857, Worcester. Oxfordshire is ruled by Capricorn. e.g. John Thaw, 3 Jan. 1942; singer Marianne Faithfull, 29 Dec. 1946 Oxford; Winston Churchill, 30 Nov. 1874, politician, Blenheim, Oxford Bath, Berkshire and Leamington are ruled by Leo Bradford by a blend of Pisces and Aquarius [e.g. the writer, J B Priestley born there 13 September 1894, with moon at 29 Aquarius]. Brighton, Salisbury and Cambridge ruled by Aquarius. For Cambridge: Sir Isaac Newton, 25 Dec. [OS] 1642, Grantham; Germaine Greer, 29 Jan. 1939; Stephen Hawking, astronomer, 8 Jan. 1942; Oliver Cromwell, 25 April 1599, politician, Huntingdon; Geoff Capes, shot-putter, 23 August 1949 Cambridgeshire.

Birmingham and West Midlands ruled by Aries with Scorpio elements, as shown by their manufacture of steel, guns, armoury, chains, saws, locks, nuts, bolts, nails, screws, latches, etc going back several centuries. Examples include scientist Francis Galton, 16 Feb. 1822; politician Clare Short, 5 Feb. 1946; actress Julie Walters, 22 Feb. 1950; politician Jeff Rooker, 5 June 1941; comedian and ornithologist Bill Oddie, 7 July 1941; singer Toyah Wilcox, 18 May 1958; politician Dennis Howell, 4 Sept. 1923; singer Joan Armatrading, 9 Dec. 1950. Liverpool is a blend of Scorpio and Gemini and has produced many comedians, singers, poets and performers. Merseyside examples include Ken Dodd, comedian, 8 Nov. 1931; Roger McGough, poet, 9 Nov.

1937; Jimmy Tarbuck, performer, 6 Feb., 1940; Derek Nimmo, wit, 19 Sept. 1932; broadcaster John Peel, 30 Aug. 1939; jazz singer George Melly, 17 August 1926; comedian Arthur Askey, 6 June 1900; actor Walter Duranty, 25 May 1884; singer Cilla Black, 27 May 1943; boxer John Conteh, 27 May 1951; comedian Alexei Sayle, 7 August 1952; poet Brian Patten, 7 Feb. 1946; singer John Gorman 4 Jan. 1936; singer Gerry Marsden, 24 Sept. 1942; Mr Gladstone, 29 Dec. 1809, politician. Lincoln, York, Durham and Canterbury are all Sag and Pisces ruled and comprise the most important centres of the English Church. Examples include Archbishops Robert Runcie, 2 Oct. 1921; William Laud, 7 Oct.

1573; Arthur Ramsey, 14 Nov. 1904; Donald Coggan 9 Oct. 1909; George Carey, 13 Nov. 1935; the poet Eliz. Browning born at Durham 6 March 1806. Also the poet Christopher Marlowe, 6 Feb. 1564 born at Canterbury; the poet W H Auden 21 Feb. 1907, born at York; also Bishop of Durham David Jenkins, 26 Jan. 1925. Other Lincolnshire figures [mostly Libra] include the founder of Methodism, John Wesley, 17 June 1703, Epworth; politician Margaret Thatcher, 13 Oct. 1925, Grantham [with Scorpio asc]; broadcaster Nicholas Parsons, 10 Oct. 1927, Grantham; and politician Dick Taverne, 18 Oct. 1927 at Lincoln. South Staffordshire, Cannock and Walsall are co-ruled by Sagittarius and Cancer. Seaside resorts ruled by Leo [e.g.

Blackpool, Bournemouth, Bognor Regis, Eastbourne] Coastal areas in general are ruled by Cancer, Pisces or Aquarius; examples include Charles Dickens, born at Portsmouth 7 Feb. 1812; writer George Meredith, born at Portsmouth 12 Feb. 1828; Joseph Millais, artist, 8 June 1829, Southampton; Thomas Arnold, writer 13 June 1795, Isle Of Wight; sailor Francis Chichester, 17 Sept. 1901 at Chichester; Portsmouth and Cambridge historian B Cunliffe, 10 Dec. 1939. Kent seems to be Leo with a Capricorn gloss: broadcaster Dennis Norden, Kent, 6 Feb. 1922; broadcaster and wit Frank Muir, Kent, 5 Feb.

1920; politician, musician and sailor Sir Edward Heath, born Broadstairs Kent, 9 July 1916 [probably with Aquarius asc and now living in Salisbury]; politician William Pitt, 28 May 1759 Kent; physician William Harvey 1 April 1578 Kent; writer William Hazlitt, 10 April 1778, Maidstone, Kent; novelist H G Wells, 21 Sept. 1866, Bromley, Kent. For Surrey, the 'rich stockbroker belt' south of London, Leo, Capricorn and Gemini seem to blend in their rulership: examples include actor Laurence Olivier, 22 May 1907, Dorking Surrey; prima donna ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn, 18 May 1919, Reigate Surrey; Rev. Thomas Malthus, 17 Feb. 1766, mathematician, Surrey; Surry topographer Antony Dale, 12 July 1912 Miscellaneous: Henry Bessemer, 19 Jan 1813, engineer, Charlton; George Eliot, writer 22 Nov.

1819, Warwickshire; Ellen Terry, 27 Feb. 1848, actress, Coventry. Rulerships of Some Nations: ARIES : England, Germany, Denmark, Poland. TAURUS : Ireland, and White Russia. GEMINI : United States of America, Belgium, Flanders. CANCER : North and West Africa, Holland, Paraguay. LEO : France, Italy, Rumania. LIBRA : Austria, Northern parts of China, part of India. SCORPIO : Morocco, Transvaal, Bavaria, Norway. SAGITTARIUS : Australia, Arabia, Hungary, Spain. CAPRICORN : India, Afghanistan, Albania, Bulgaria, Mexico. AQUARIUS : Sweden, Prussia, Red Russia, Abyssinia. PISCES : Portugal.

Question: In which county were politician Dennis Skinner and artist Joseph Wright born?
Answer: DERBYSHIRE